The Magic Tree House series follows the adventures of siblings Jack and Annie as they travel through time and space in a magical tree house. Mary Pope Osborne designed the series to educate children about history and other subjects in a fun and engaging way.
In each book, the siblings find themselves transported to a different time period and location, where they encounter historical figures, solve puzzles, and face challenges.
The Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne is a series of children’s books illustrated by Salvatore Murdocca and AG ford. The book series are divided into two parts. In the first part, siblings Jack and Anne Smith is sent on numerous adventures and missions with a magical tree house by Morgan Le Fay.
In the second part of the series referred to as the Magic Tree House: Merlin Missions, Jack and Anne Smith are sent on quests by Merlin the Magician, an ancient wizard.
The inspiration for the book series came to Mary Osborne when Penguin Random House asked her to start writing a series of children’s books. From the beginning, Osborne knew that her book series would include time travel.
The Magic Tree House book series was adapted into a full-scale musical created by Will Osborne and Randy Court. The Musical premiered in 2007. Will Osborne also created, produced, and presented a planetarium show, Magic Tree House: Space Mission.
The Magic Tree House was adapted into an animated Japanese film that premiered in 2011. In 2016, Lionsgate acquired the film rights to one of the books with a script written by Will Osborne and Jenny Laird.
Who are Jack and Annie Smith?
When the book series was in its conceptual stage, Mary Pope Osborne wrote Jack as the main character and Annie as his annoying younger sister. However, eventually, Osborne decided to add Annie as one of the main characters because of her bravery.
In the books, Jack is the older brother who loves books and learning. He is more cautious than his younger sister Annie, who is known for making impulsive decisions. Annie is also very caring and nurturing towards the animals and people around her.
Mary Pope Osborne’s Biography
Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children’s books. As of 2017, she has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. Both the Magic Tree House series and Osborne have won several awards for promoting children’s literacy. Osborne was raised in a military family that travelled regularly. She is married to theatre director Will Osborne, who has worked on the musical adaptations of the Magic Tree House series.
Magic Tree House Books in Order
1) The Mystery of the Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark (1992)
The first Magic Tree House book, Dinosaurs Before Dark, tells the story of two siblings, Jack and Annie, as they discover a tree house. Using the magical books present inside the tree house, the siblings travel back to the late Cretaceous period, where they befriend a Pteranodon after it saves them from a Tyrannosaurus rex. Before escaping, Jack finds a gold medallion with the letter ‘M’ inscribed on it.
2) The Mystery of the Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn (1993)
In the second instalment of the Magic Tree House series, Jack and Annie find themselves transported back in time once again but this time to medieval England. In medieval England, they stumble upon a castle and a heroic knight. However, they soon realize that they are unwelcome guests at a feast.
3) The Mystery of the Magic Tree House: Mummies in the Morning (1993)
Mummies in the Morning is the third instalment of the Magic Tree House series. In this instalment, Jack and Annie find themselves in ancient Egypt where they meet a long-dead queen who is in desperate need of their help. Will Jack and Annie be able to solve the puzzle in time, or will they end up as mummies themselves?
4) The Mystery of the Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon (1994)
In Pirates Past Noon, Jack and Annie meet Morgan Le Fay in the Caribbean Sea as they encounter some pirates. It turns out the gold medallion that Jack found with the letter ‘M’ belonged to Morgan Le Fay.
5) The Mystery of the Magic Spell: Night of the Ninjas (1995)
In order to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Morgan Le Fay, the siblings find themselves in ancient Japan, where they stumble upon a ninja master inside a cave. The siblings must collect some magical objects to save Morgan while simultaneously avoiding a gang of evil samurai warriors.
6) The Mystery of the Magic Spell: Afternoon on the Amazon (1995)
The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie inside the Amazon, where they must escape vampire bats and killer ants. They soon get lost in the mighty Amazon forest. Will they survive? And will they find their way back to the treehouse?
7) The Mystery of the Magic Spell: Sunset of the Sabertooth (1996)
In the 7th instalment, Jack and Annie find themselves in the ice age. There they encounter woolly mammoths, Cro-Magnons, and a saber-toothed cat while they search for the third object- a mammoth bone flute, to help Morgan.
8) The Mystery of the Magic Spell: Midnight on the Moon (1996)
In Midnight on the Moon, Jack and Annie find themselves on the moon in order to help Morgan. On the moon, they must look for another mysterious object and interact with a mysterious moon resident. However, will they be able to make it back to Earth with a dwindling oxygen supply?
9) The Mystery of the Ancient Riddles: Dolphins at Daybreak (1997)
The Magic Tree House whisks Annie and Jack to the middle of the ocean. Luckily, they find a mini-submarine near the coral reef. However, they soon encounter an extremely giant octopus and a hungry shark. Will the siblings return to safety?
10) The Mystery of the Ancient Riddles: Ghost Town at Sundown (1997)
In Ghost Town at Sundown, Jack and Annie find themselves in the American Wild West. There, they also encounter Slim, a cowboy. Will Slim help the siblings solve the second riddle?
11) The Mystery of the Ancient Riddles: Lions at Lunchtime (1998)
In Lions at Lunchtime, Jack and Annie find themselves in the African Savannah as they continue to solve Morgan’s ancient riddles. On their journey to uncover the latest mystery, the siblings have an encounter with a Masai warrior and a host of African wildlife, along with a pride of hungry lions.
12) The Mystery of the Ancient Riddles: Polar Bears Past Bedtime (1998)
Polar Bears Past Time is the last instalment in the Mystery of the Ancient Riddles series. In this instalment, the young siblings find themselves in the Arctic, where they get stuck on an ice flow. On this journey, they also meet a seal hunter and learn about Inuit culture.
13) The Mystery of the Lost Stories: Vacation Under the Volcano (1998)
In Vacation Under the Volcano, Morgan Le Fay sends the siblings to ancient Pompeii in order to retrieve a book from the library. However, little do they know that they have landed on the exact date on which Pompeii is destroyed after Mount Vesuvius erupts. Will the siblings find the book in time?
14) The Mystery of the Lost Stories: Day of the Dragon King (1998)
Jack and Annie find themselves in ancient China, where the powerful emperor known as the Dragon King has ordered all books to be burned. Will the siblings save at least one book from burning, or will they be captured by the Dragon King’s soldiers?
15) The Mystery of the Lost Stories: Viking Ships at Sunrise (1998)
The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie to ancient Ireland, where they land on the cliff of a misty island. As they look for another one of Morgan Le Fay’s mysterious texts, they find themselves in the clutches of a horde of evil Vikings.
16) The Mystery of the Lost Stories: Hour of the Olympics (1998)
In the Hour of the Olympics, Jack and Annie find themselves in ancient Greece while an Olympic event is taking place. However, Annie, being a girl, is not allowed to watch the game. When Jack is at the games, he has a sneaking suspicion that Annie will find a way into the games and get herself and Jack into some serious trouble.
17) The Mystery of the Enchanted Dog: Tonight on the Titanic (1999)
The Magic Tree House whisks Annie and Jack aboard the Titanic. Will the siblings be able to do anything to change the course of history and save the people onboard?
18) The Mystery of the Enchanted Dog: Buffalo Before Breakfast (1999)
Jack, Annie, and Teddy and their enchanted fog were on the Great Plains 200 years ago. While in the Great Plains, they meet a young Lakota boy who teaches them how to hunt a buffalo. However, something goes terribly wrong, and they must find a way to stop a thousand buffalo from stampeding.
19) The Mystery of the Enchanted Dog: Tigers at Twilight (1999)
In this instalment of the Magic Tree House book series, Jack and Annie find themselves inside the Indian jungle as they look for a gift. On their journey, they work together to save a tiger from a steel trap.
20) The Mystery of the Enchanted Dog: Dingoes at Dinnertime (2000)
Jack and Annie must explore the Australian Outback in search of a gift from a kangaroo. On their journey, they save a joey and a koala bear from the clutches of a raging wildfire. When they return to their timeline, Morgan removes the spell on their enchanted dog, and the siblings discover that Teddy is a young boy who trapped himself in the body of a dog while casting a spell.
21) The Mystery of Morgan’s Library: Civil War on Sunday (2000)
Morgan Le Fay sends the siblings on another vision of the American Civil War in the midst of a battle. On their mission, Jack and Annie have an encounter with a nurse, Clara Barton, and help her take care of wounded soldiers in a field hospital.
22) The Mystery of Morgan’s Library: Revolutionary War on Wednesday (2000)
In Revolutionary War on Wednesday, Jack and Annie are sent on a mission in the past where they must help George Washington cross the Delaware River.
23) The Mystery of Morgan’s Library: Twister on Tuesday (2001)
Jack and Annie find themselves in the 1870s on a prairie near a one-room schoolhouse. There they have an encounter with a teenage schoolteacher, some kids, and a scary bully.
24) The Mystery of Morgan’s Library: Earthquake in the Early Morning (2001)
Jack and Annie find themselves in San Francisco in 1906. They get to experience the San Francisco earthquake after which they must find a way to inspire King to participate in the battle of Mordred.
25) The Mystery of Morgan’s Rhymes: Stage Fright on a Summer Night (2002)
Jack and Annie have been whisked away on an adventure in Elizabethan England, where they befriend a frustrated playwright and find actors for a play. In this book, Jack must overcome his stage fright, and the kids also get a chance to meet Queen Elizabeth.
26) The Mystery of Morgan’s Rhymes: Good Morning, Gorillas! (2002)
Jack and Annie find themselves in Africa, where they have an encounter with a group of mountain gorillas. While Annie fits right in with the animals, Jack feels left out until he finds a way to communicate with them nonverbally.
27) The Mystery of Morgan’s Rhymes: Thanksgiving on Thursday (2002)
It is 1621, and the siblings are in Plymouth, where they share the first-ever Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians.
28) The Mystery of Morgan’s Rhymes: High Tide in Hawaii (2003)
Jack and Annie are in Hawaii from the past, where they barely survived a tsunami. In this story, they also make two new friends with whom they share a fascinating adventure.
29) Learning From Heroes: A Big Day for Baseball (2017)
Morgan, the librarian, gives Jack and Annie two magical baseball caps, which transform them into the best players. Then the magic tree house sends them back to 1947 and finds out that they will play the role of batboys in the game.
30) Learning From Heroes: Hurricane Heroes in Texas (2018)
The Magic Tree House transports Jack and Annie to Galveston, Texas, in the year 1900, right when a big storm is coming.
31) Learning From Heroes: Warriors in Winter (2019)
Jack and Annie find themselves in a Roman camp circa 100 A.D.
32) Learning From Heroes: To the Future, Ben Franklin! (2019)
Jack and Annie are sent back to Colonial Philadelphia to help Ben Franklin when he is struggling with making a decision regarding the Declaration of Independence.
33) Animal Rescues: Narwhal on Sunny Night (2020)
The Magic Tree House whisks Annie and Jack to Greenland, where their mission is to save a narwhal.
34) Animal Rescues: Late Lunch with Llamas (2020)
The Magic Tree House sends Annie and Jack to the Peruvian Andes, where they learn that a baby llama has been stolen. In order to rescue the llama, the siblings must climb to the ruins of Machu Picchu.
35) Animal Rescues: Camp Time in California (2021)
Annie and Jack land on the tallest tree on earth in present-day Yosemite National Park. From this book, readers will learn a valuable lesson in environmental conservation.
36) Animal Rescues: Sunlight on the Snow Leopard (2022)
In the 36th instalment of the Magic Tree House book series, Annie and Jack are transported to the Himalayas of Nepal in search of a ghost. While there the siblings learn a great deal about the Himalayan wildlife.\
37) Rhinos at Recess (2023)
In this instalment, Jack and Annie must save a rhino from poachers in South Africa.
38) Time of the Turtle King (2023)
After saving a rhino in the previous story, this time its time to save the Turtle King!
Magic Tree House: Merlin Missions in order
1) In the Quest to save Camelot arc: Christmas in Camelot (2001)
Christmas in Camelot is the first instalment in the Merlin Missions series. In this book, Jack and Annie are on a quest to save Camelot. It is the first mission set by Merlin the Magician.
2) In the Quest to save Camelot arc: Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve (2003)
Merlin the Magician summons the siblings to the realm of Camelot, where they must retrieve the stolen Stone of Destiny.
3) In the Quest to save Camelot arc: Summer of the Sea Serpent (2004)
Merlin sends Annie and Jack on a mission to retrieve the Sword of Light for the good of Camelot. Teddy is now a recurring character and acts as the siblings’ sidekick.
4) In the Quest to save Camelot arc: Winter of the Ice Wizard (2004)
Both Morgan Le Fay and Merlin the Magician have vanished. With the help of Teddy and Kathleen, Jack and Annie must find them in the Land Behind-The-Clouds, a frozen kingdom of ice and snow.
5) In the using magic wisely arc: Carnival at Candlelight (2005)
The siblings must prove to Merlin the Magician that they can use magic wisely by saving Venice from a disastrous flood.
6) In the using magic wisely arc: Seasons of the Sandstorms (2005)
The Magic Tree House takes Jack and Annie back in time to a desert in the Middle East. There, they learn the ways of the Bedouin tribe and ride camels.
7) In the using magic wisely arc: Night of the New Magicians (2006)
The Magic Tree House takes Jack and Annie to 1889, where they are on a mission to save four new magicians- Alexander Graham Bell, Gustave Eiffel, Louis Pasteur, and Thomas Edison—before they are kidnapped and their magic is stolen from an evil sorcerer.
8) In the using magic wisely arc: Blizzard of the Blue Moon (2006)
Merlin the Magician sends the siblings on a mission to rescue a unicorn from 1930s’ New York City.
9) In the happiness arc: Dragon of the Red Dawn (2007)
The Magic Tree House brings Jack and Annie to feudal Japan on a mission to find the first of four secrets of happiness for Merlin the Magicians because everybody is noticing that he doesn’t act like himself anymore.
10) In the happiness arc: Monday with a Mad Genius (2007)
Jack and Annie continue their mission to find the secrets of happiness for Merlin. This time, the Magic Tree House brings them to the Renaissance period.
11) In the happiness arc: Dark Day in the Deep Sea (2008)
Jack and Annie find themselves on a deserted island in the 1870s. Still searching for the secrets of happiness, they find themselves getting rescued by a team of scientists on HMS Challenger who are looking for a sea monster.
12) In the happiness arc: Eve of the Emperor Penguin (2008)
Jack and Annie arrive in Antarctica, where they must learn the last secret of happiness.
13) In the inspiring arc: Moonlight on the Magic Flute (2009)
Jack and Annie are sent on a mission to 18th-century Austria, where they must help a musician by the name of Mozart.
14) In the inspiring arc: A Good Night for Ghosts (2009)
Jack and Annie are on their way to New Orleans to inspire another musician. On their mission, they learn about the world of Jazz and even meet a young Louis Armstrong.
15) In the inspiring arc: Leprechaun in Late Winter (2010)
On their third mission to inspire artists to stick to their calling, the siblings meet a young girl who is sad because she can’t find any leprechauns and faeries. They soon learn that the girl grows up to be Lady Gregory, a legend-teller of Irish folklore.
16) In the inspiring arc: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time (2010)
Jack and Annie find themselves on the foggy streets of London in Victorian England on a mission to help the famous writer, Charles Dickens.
17) In the Penny’s spell arc: A Crazy Day with Cobras (2011)
Penny, Merlin the Magician’s beloved penguin, is turned into stone by Teddy. In order to break Penny’s spell, the siblings must travel to an Indian desert in order to retrieve an ingredient required to break the spell.
18) In the Penny’s spell arc: Dogs in the Dead of Night (2011)
On a mission to find the ingredients to break Penny’s curse, the siblings find themselves back in time in a monastery on the top of one of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps. In the monastery, they are greeted by Saint Bernard dogs and monks.
19) In the Penny’s spell arc: Abe Lincoln at Last! (2011)
The Magic Tree House sends the siblings back to the Civil War era in order to find the third ingredient for breaking Penny’s spell.
20) In the Penny’s spell arc: A Perfect Time for Pandas (2012)
Jack and Annie arrive in a village in the mountains of southeast China on the exact day of a historic earthquake. Will Jack and Annie be able to find the last ingredient?
21) In the greatness arc: Stallion by Starlight (2013)
In the 21st instalment of the Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie must go back to ancient Macedonia to have an adventure with Alexander the Great and his stallion Bucephalus.
22) In the greatness arc: Hurry Up Houdini (2013)
Merlin the Magician sends the siblings on a mission to find the secret of greatness from Harry Houdini, the best escape artist to have ever lived. Annie and Jack must head to Coney Island to find the elusive magician.
23) In the greatness arc: High Time for Heroes (2014)
In order to find the secret of greatness, Merlin the Magician sends the siblings off to Thebes, Egypt, to find Florence Nightingale.
24) In the greatness arc: Soccer on Sunday (2014)
Jack and Annie are sent to Mexico during the 1970 FIFA World Cup, hoping that Pele will be able to tell them the secret of greatness.
25) Shadow of the Shark (2015)
Jack and Annie are promised a relaxing vacation on the coast of Mexico, but there they have several encounters with hungry sharks.
26) Balto of the Blue Dawn (2016)
It’s 1925, and Jack and Annie meet Balto, a jet-black Siberian husky in Alaska.
27) Night of the Ninth Dragon (2016)
Jack and Annie find themselves back at Camelot. This time on a mission to save the Kingdom of Camelot and King Arthur after the Castle Camelot has been attacked.
28) Memories and Life Lessons from the Magic Tree House (2022)
This book was written to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Magic Tree House series. It includes quotes from the series and illustrations by Sal Murdocca, the original artist. It is also filled with valuable advice and life lessons from Mary Pope Osborne.
Magic Tree House Super Edition Book
The Danger in the Darkest Hour (2015)
Danger in the Darkest Hourwhich was later reprinted as World at War, 1944 is the first Magic Tree House super edition. Jack and Annie are sent to Normandy during World War II, days before D-Day. There they must rescue Kathleen who is stuck behind the enemy lines.
Nonfiction Companion Books
The Magic Tree House Fact Trackers, also known as the Magic Tree House Research Guides, are nonfiction companion books that are written by Natali Pope Boyce, Mary Pope Osborne, and Will Osborne. These books were written to provide more in-depth follow-up information on topics covered in the series.
1) Dinosaurs companion to Dinosaurs Before Dark (2000)
2) Knights and Castles companion to The Knight at Dawn (2000)
3) Mummies and Pyramids companion to Mummies in the Morning (2001)
4) Pirates companion to Pirates Past Noon (2001)
5) Rain Forests companion to Afternoon on the Amazon (2001)
6) Space companion to Midnight on the Moon (2002)
7) Titanic companion to Tonight on the Titanic (2002)
8) Twisters and Other Terrible Storms companion to Twister of Tuesday (2003)
9) Dolphins and Sharks companion to Dolphins at Daybreak (2003)
10) Ancient Greece and the Olympics companion to Hour of the Olympics (2004)
11) American Revolution companion to Revolutionary War on Wednesday (2004)
12) Sabertooths and the Ice Age companion to Sunset of the Sabertooth (2005)
13) Pilgrims companion to Thanksgiving on Thursday (2005)
14) Ancient Rome and Pompeii companion to Vacation under a Volcano (2006)
15) Tsunamis and Other Natural Disasters companion to High Tide in Hawaii (2007)
16) Polar Bears and the Arctic companion to Polar Bears Past Bedtime (2007)
17) Sea Monsters companion to Dard Day in the Deep Sea (2008)
18) Penguins and Antarctica companion to Eve of the Emperor Penguin (2008)
19) Leonardo da Vinci companion to Monday with a Mad Genius (2009)
20) Ghosts companion to A Good Night for Ghosts (2009)
21) Leprechauns and Irish Folklore companion to Leprechauns in Late Winter (2010)
22) Rags and Riches: Kids in the Time of Charles Dickens companion to A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time (2010)
23) Snakes and Other Reptiles companion to A Crazy Day with Cobras (2011)
24) Dog Heroes companion to Dogs in the Dead of Night (2011)
25) Abraham Lincoln companion to Abe Lincoln At Last! (2011)
26) Pandas and Other Endangered Species companion to A Perfect Time for Pandas (2012)
27) House Heroes companion to Stallion by Starlight (2013)
28) Heroes for All Times companion to High Time For Heroes and Camp Time in California (2014)
29) Soccer companion to Soccer on Sunday (2014)
30) Ninjas and Samurai companion to Night of the Ninjas (2014)
31) China: Land of the Emperor’s Great Wall companion to Day of the Dragon King (2014)
32) Sharks and Other Predators companion to Shadow of the Shark (2014)
33) Vikings companion to Viking Ships at Sunrise (2015)
34) Dogsledding and Extreme Sports companion to Balto of the Blue Dawn (2016)
35) Dragons and Mythical Creatures companion to Night of the Ninth Dragon (2016)
36) World War II companion to World at War, 1944 (2017)
37) Baseball companion to A Big Day for Baseball (2017)
38) Wild West companion to Ghost Town at Sundown (2018)
39) Texas companion to Hurricane Heroes in Texas (2018)
40) Warriors companion to Warriors in Winter (2019)
41) Benjamin Franklin companion to ‘To the Future, Ben Franklin’ (2019)
42) Narwhals and other Whales companion to Narwhal on a Sunday Night (2020)
43) Llamas and the Andes companion to Late Lunch with Llamas (2020)
44) Snow Leopards and Other Wild Cats companion to Sunlight on the Snow Leopard (2022)
